Convert PDF to image in Universal Windows Store App

For those who are going to create Universal apps requiring PDF rendering for both Windows Phone Store and Windows Store we have prepared a sample showing our Apitron PDF Rasterizer for .NET component in action.

This C# sample is called ProgressiveRenderingSample and it was created using Visual C#\Store Apps\Universal Apps\Blank App template. Sample is included into the product download package, see Samples folder (get it here). The solution contains two specific projects each targeting its own platform (Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1) and a shared code project.

In this sample we demonstrate that the same code can be used to render PDF to image on both platforms and the technique called “progressive rendering”. Both apps render PDFs using special rendering thread and update their views asynchronously taking the load off the UI thread. It makes the app more responsive to user actions and gives him perfect feedback.

Screenshots, showing 2 apps side by side:

Windows 8.1 app

Windows Phone app

Both apps use the same code and library for rendering and they even look similar having the same layout for their main pages. Try it yourself or contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Create, read, edit and sign PDF documents using single .NET component. (C# samples)

If you need a PDF .NET component providing easy-to-use and clean API then it’s time to take a look at the Apitron PDF Kit for .NET. This product is designed to help you on a way with creation, manipulation, and all kind of processing related to PDF documents. These files can be of different origin: created using all possible versions of the PDF specification and various optimization techniques, e.g. linearized or tagged PDFs.  They can also be password-protected or digitally signed, so simply speaking - everything created according to PDF specification can be processed using our component.

Apitron PDF Kit for .NET is a fully managed .NET library that supports literally all features defined for PDF by Adobe, assemblies are available for any .NET framework version starting from 2.0 and it also works on Mono and Xamarin.  Xamarin Studio + Apitron PDF Kit can be used to create PDF processing apps running on OS X for example. Futhermore it's possible to create apps for iOS and Android using Xamarin.iOS and Xamarin.Android. Files created using this component can be viewed on all platforms and devices where a decent PDF viewer exists (and furthermore we have own viewer and rasterizer components as well).

Using this component you’ll be able to:

• Extract, modify and add graphics (text, images, drawings)
• Split or merge PDF documents
• Fill or create PDF forms
• Add or remove document fields
• Examine resources within a document - fonts, embedded files
• Digitally sign and check existing signatures on PDF documents
• Search for specific text
• Protect document with a password, edit its permissions
• Work with navigation objects, e.g. create bookmarks or links
• Control viewer settings for PDF file
• Use full support for annotations
• Use full support for PDF actions
• Use all fonts defined by specification
• Use various supported colorspaces and color profiles, e.g. you may draw in RGB, CMYK, gray, or whatever colorspace you like.
• Save files to other “subtypes” of PDF – Linearized or PDF/a for example. If you require a specific functionality and are unsure about whether it is supported, please review our online help you contact support so we'll be able to handle this.
• Use Fixed layout API, implemented to be 100% PDF specification compatible, it unlocks full power of the PDF for you. Any complex PDF creation or manipulation task can be completed instantly.
• Use Flow layout API, a styles-driven content generation API similar to HTML+CSS provides you with ability to create stunning documents, reports, bills, catalogs and more in minutes. Compact and easy to use, supports creation of XML templates and much more.
•  Create cross-platform PDF processing apps targeting Windows, iOS, Android, OS X and other systems .NET/MONO implementation exists for.

This list is rather incomplete but it gives an idea of component's capabilities. It’s also worth mentioning that we provide first-class support and response within 24h is guaranteed.

Component’s package contains many beautiful samples for both Fixed and Flow layout APIs and can be downloaded here. There are samples showing how to sign the document, draw something on PDF page, generate simple report using grid, set document password and more. Whenever you have a need, all developer guides and component's documentation are available online on our website.

Below I’m going to show you a simple “Hello world” PDF creation sample:

The code

/// <summary>

/// "Hello World" PDF generation sample, flow layout.

/// </summary>       

class Program

{

    static void Main(string[] args)

    {

        ResourceManager resourceManager = new ResourceManager();

           

        // create document and set margin

        FlowDocument document = new FlowDocument() { Margin = new Thickness(5)};

        document.Add(new TextBlock("Hello world with Apitron PDF Kit for .NET!") { Font = new Font(StandardFonts.Helvetica,20)});

         

        string fileName = "HelloWorld.pdf";

        // save and open

        using (Stream stream = File.Create(fileName))

        {

            document.Write(stream, resourceManager, new PageBoundary(Boundaries.A4));

        }

        Process.Start(fileName);

    }

}

Result

Generated "Hello world" PDF

Similar sample demonstrating Fixed layout API

The code

/// <summary>

/// This sample shows how to draw a simple rect on PDF page.

/// </summary>

class Program

{

    private static void Main(string[] args)

    {

        string fileName = "rectangle.pdf";

        // open and load the file

        using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Create))

        {

            // this object represents a fixed PDF document

            FixedDocument document = new FixedDocument();

            Page page = new Page(new PageBoundary(Boundaries.A4));

            // create colorspace resource

            string rgbID = "CS_RGB";

            document.ResourceManager.RegisterResource(new RgbColorSpace(rgbID));

            // set fill color

            page.Content.SetNonStrokingColorSpace(rgbID);

            page.Content.SetNonStrokingColor(0.33, 0.66, 0.33);

               

            // define the rectangle

            FixedLayout.Content.Path path = new FixedLayout.Content.Path();

               

            path.AppendRectangle(200, 300, 200, 200);

            page.Content.FillAndStrokePath(path);

            // add page to the document and save

            document.Pages.Add(page);

                            

            document.Save(fs);

        }

        // preview document

        Process.Start(fileName);

    }       

}

Result

Generated PDF

We’ll continue to cover our API by providing more samples in upcoming posts, stay tuned!  Lots of samples are available already in our download package. Should you have any questions just let us know and we’ll be happy to help you.